This marad advisory provides guidance for vessels transiting the bab-al-mandab strait, red sea and the gulf…

Original warning text

RED SEA.
BAB-AL-MANDAB STRAIT.
1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY PROVIDES GUIDANCE FOR VESSELS
   TRANSITING THE BAB-AL-MANDAB STRAIT, RED SEA AND
   THE GULF OF ADEN ALONG THE COAST OF YEMEN.
2. INFORMATION SUGGESTS THAT AL-QAEDA REMAINS INTERESTED
   IN MARITIME ATTACKS IN THE BAB-AL-MANDAB STRAIT,
   RED SEA AND THE GULF OF ADEN ALONG THE COAST OF YEMEN.
   ALTHOUGH IT IS UNCLEAR HOW THEY WOULD PROCEED, IT MAY
   BE SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THE ATTACK AGAINST THE USS COLE
   IN OCTOBER 2000 OR THE M/V LIMBERG IN OCTOBER 2002,
   WHERE A SMALL TO MID-SIZE BOAT LADEN WITH EXPLOSIVES
   WAS DETONATED IN THE VICINITY OF THE TARGETED SHIPS.
   HOWEVER, IT CANNOT BE RULED OUT THAT THE EXTREMISTS
   MAY BE CAPABLE OF OTHER MORE SOPHISTICATED METHODS OF
   TARGETING, SUCH AS THE USE OF MISSILE OR PROJECTILES TO
   TARGET SHIPS SUCH AS THE MORTARS USED TO TARGET A NAVY
   SHIP IN JORDAN IN 2005. ALTHOUGH THE TIME AND LOCATION
   OF SUCH AN ATTACK IS UNKNOWN, IT IS LIKELY THAT SHIPS IN
   THE BAB-AL-MANDAB STRAIT, RED SEA AND THE GULF OF ADEN
   ALONG THE COAST OF YEMEN ARE AT THE GREATEST RISK OF
   BECOMING TARGETS OF SUCH AN ATTACK.
3. ALL VESSELS TRANSITING THE WATERS IN THE VICINITY OF
   YEMEN ARE URGED TO OPERATE AT A HEIGHTENED STATE OF
   READINESS AND SHOULD MAINTAIN STRICT 24 HOUR VISUAL
   AND RADAR WATCHES AND REGULARLY REPORT THEIR
   POSITION / COURSE / SPEED TO THE UKMTO. VESSELS ARE AT
   GREATEST RISK IN AREAS OF RESTRICTED MANEUVERABILITY
   AND WHILE IN PORT OR AT ANCHOR.
4. MERCHANT VESSELS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS
   ACTIVITY TO THE UKMTO DUBAI, PHONE: 97 150 552 3215,
   E-MAIL: [email protected] OR IMB PRC AT PHONE: 6 032 031 0014,
   E-MAILS: [email protected] AND [email protected].
   REPORTS CAN ALSO BE RELAYED TO MSCHOA AT
   E-MAIL: [email protected].
5. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT
   ROBERT FORD, MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY,
   CODE: MAR-420, ROOM W25-207, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, S.E.,
   WASHINGTON, DC 20590, PHONE: 202 366 0223,
   FAX: 202 366 3954, TLX II: 710 822 9426 (MARAD DOT WSH),
   OR E-MAIL: [email protected].